Stack transfer and bottom wrapper insertion unit



April 1959 H. E. DANIELS 2,882,659

STACK TRANSFER AND BOTTOM WRAPPER INSERTION UNIT Filed Jan. 13, 1955 9Sheets-Sheet 1 I N V EN TOR. fifwfir f DAN/15 BY KMXM Ap 1959 H. E.DANIELS I I 2,882,659

STACK TRANSFER AND BOTTOM WRAPPER INSERTION UNIT Filed Jm. 13, 1955 9Sheets-Sheet 2 flm M Maw April 21, 1959 v H. DANIELS 2,882,659

' STACK TRANSFER AND BOTTOM WRAPPER INSERTION UNIT Filed Jan; 13, 1955 9Sheets-Sheet 3 r f 4 TH -7 INVENTOR. flf/eaf/er f DAM/51s BYWMJM,

HIE. DANIELS April 21, 1959 ,STACK TRANSFER AND BOTTOM WRAPPER INSERTIONum'r Filed Jan. 13, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet .4

2,882,659 STACK TRANSFER AND BOTTOM WRAPPER INSERTION UNIT Filed Jan.13, 1955 V H. E. DANIELS April 21, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.flmesmr E M/V/HS BY fizz/v: ,2 42min,

April 21, 1959 H. E. DANIELS STACK TRANSFER AND BOTTOM WRAPPER INSERTIONUNIT Filed Jan. 13, 1955 9 Shets-Sheet 6 Tim. E

INVENTOR- I flf/eamr f p/i/V/ZZS April 21, 1959 DANlELs 7 2,882,659

STACK 'IRANSFER AND BOTTOM WRAPPER INSERTION UNIT Filed Jan. 13 1955 Vam I 7 11/11/1 11? 1 1 E INVENTOR. fizzamr f. flaw/15 9 Sheets-Sheet 7April 1959 H. E. DANIELS 2,882,659

STACK TRANSFER AND BOTTOM WRAPPER INSERTION UNIT Filed Jan. 13, 1955 9Sheets-Sheet 8 3 1W HIIU. 7 mm u I IIHVQ' HW r'o me $90 INVENTOR.flmsfzr 5 249/545 BY MM}, MW

United rates Patent siAoKTR' MANSFER: AND BOTTOM WR 'APFE'R INSERTIONUNIT Herhert'E'Daniels, Orange, NJL, assignor to The Jampol Company,Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y.,' a corporation ofiNeW York ApplicationJanuai-y is,1955, Serial No. 481,568 19' clams. 01.53 14 This'invention relatestonewspaper mailroom handling equipment and particularly to a stacktransfer and bottom wrapper insertion unit for stacks of foldednewspapers.

In newspaper mailro-oms the assembled newspaper s newspaper; practice,particularly in the larger cities, have resulted in :a continual-increase"in the demandsimade' upon the production schedules innewspaper mailrooms.

Theincreased demands niade upon newspaper mailrooms haveled to-theutilization of improved stack handling machinery, such-as power operatedconveyors and automatic stack tying machines, all of which are designedto reduce the manual handling=operations required for conventionalmailroom processing and to generally in-' crease the speed andefliciency of the flow of "stacks of newspapers therethrough.

Recent general fe machineryldesign ed-to receive the assembled andfolded newspapers from conveyors, form the same into stackspredeter'minedsize or Weight and to place the same in a predeterminedpositional relationship upona suitable conveyor exiting therefrom.mailroom installations, the capacity of the existing automatic wiretying machines'is sufficient to handle the output of several stackerunitswhether of the more recent automatie type or the more conventionalmanually operated units. However, present-day practice requires'themanual insertionof protective coverings, i.e. bottom wrap pers,underneath the stack intermediate the stacker units Thispdue to theweight and the wire tying, machines. of the st ack" and itssusceptibility to collapse in untied condition, is a relatively arduousand trying job at'best and generalrnarkedly limits the speed andefficiency of theg eneral flow r stacksof newspapers througha newspaperl n ailr qbn l.

This invention maybe hriefly described as an automatic newspaper'sta'cktransfer' and bottom wrapper insertion unit particularlyadapted for usein association with'auto-' maticstacking aiid wire"tyihg'machinerywherein astackof" newspapers, received in a predetermined positionalrelationship, is supplied with a protective bottom wrapper while beingmaintained in stack introduced in a'pi'edetermined' latio'n'ship uponconveyormean unit. Anion'g"'tlieadvantages' presentinventien permittingof completely "auto In handling of stacksoffnewspapefs-"in theirffiow noform and is subsequently and proper positional redevelop'nients haveindicated the utility and asibility of the utilization of automaticstacking In most of the modern s i' i H t ir ty n attendant the use ofthe 2,882,659 Patented Apr; 21 1959 2" automatic handling: machinery apracticalreality posi tive shaping of a'stack of newspapers undergoingprocessing both before, during-and'after bottom wrapper inser tion; andautomatic timed delivery of the bottom'wrapper' protected stack inproper positional relationship for subsequent operations thereon.

An object of this invention is the provision of an auto matic stacktransfer and bottom wrapper insertion unit for newspaper mailrooms. M e7 Other objects and advantagesof this invention willbe' pointed out inthe followingdisclosure'and' claims and will be illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which describe, by way of example, the principlesof the invention and the presently preferred embodiment of the stack:transfer and bottom wrapper insertion unit incorporat ing thoseprinciples;

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of the disposition of theinvention inthe general flow system in amodeIn day' newspaper mailroom; V i

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the unit as viewed from the'lines 2-2on Fig land Fig. 3;

Figs' 2A and 2B are details of the mounting of the arresting plate forthe stack delivery stationB; Fig. 3 is an elevational view taken on theline 3'3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4- -4 'of a. Fig. 4A is aplan view of a detail of a portion of the control mechanism;

Fig. 5 isa sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6 isa sectionalview taken on the line 6-6 of i:

Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a"sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6;

Fig, 8 is "a sectional view taken on the1ine8 8 of Fig. 9 is a sectionalview taken on the'line 9--9 of Fig. 8; V I I V v I V v Fig. 10is-asectional view"taken on' the line 10 -10 of Fig.9;

Fig. 11 is a seetionalview taken on the linen-1i of Fig. 10; a n V nFig. 12-'is* a'sectional view taken on theline 12-12 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view'takenon the line' 13- -13 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 14 isa view similar to that of Fig. 13 but showing the positioningof the illustrated elements thereof at another portio-n-of the cycle ofoperation;

Fig. 15 is a schematic circuit diagramfor the control" system.

As generally set forth above, the automatic stack transfer and bottomWrapper insertion unit forming the sub-ff ject matter of this inventionis particularly adapted for" utilization in association with otherautomatic handling units in newspaper mailrooms in order to render theutili'-' zation of the full capacity of 'said automatic units apractical reality and to greatly increase the -speed and efiiciency ofthe flow of stacks of newspapers through the mailroom. Fig. 1 shows, ingeneral and in schematic form, the positioning of 'the stack transferand bottom wrapper insertion unit in the general fiow'system in a modernnewspaper mailroom." Referring to the draw? ing," the assembledgandfolded :newspapers enter a mail rooni at a rate of up; t o 60,000per-hour by meansof" conventional Cutler Hammer dispatch conveyors 10and are introduced into stacker units '12;'*wh'erein 'theyare formedinto stacks of predetermined number or'weight. As mentionedabove, recentadvancesin'the' stacker art have re sulted in the development ofautomatic stacker units which receive the papers from the conveyors andautomatically form them into stacks of predetermined number or weight.Utilization of such automatic stacker units results in a great increasein the possible number of stacks formed per unit of time and alsoconsequently permits an increase in the load to be handled by thesubsequent processing units if the full capacity of said automaticstackers is to be utilized.

The output of the stacker units 12, in the form of stacks of newspapersof predetermined number or weight, appears on the delivery conveyors 14positioned so that the long axis of the stacked newspapers is disposedgenerally parallel to the center line of the delivery conveyor 14 asindicated by the dotted lines 16 representing a stack of papers. Thestacks of papers are adapted to be transported by the delivery conveyor14 to the automatic stack transfer and bottom wrapper insertion unit,generally designated 18, forming the subject matter of this invention.In general, in the stack transfer and bottom wrapper insertion unit 18,receipt of a stack of newspapers 16 against the arresting plate 20results in actuation of a ram 22. Actuation of the ram 22 effects adisplacement of the stack at right angles to its previous direction ofmotion over the bottom wrapper insertion unit. 24 which effects thedisposition of a bottom wrapper beneath the stack. It should be notedthat the abutting of the stack against the plate 20 and the consequentright angular displacement thereof by actuation of the ram 22 effects anautomatic squaring up of the stack on the two sequentially engagedsurfaces thereof. The displacement of the stack under the action of theram 22 is terminated by the stack, now riding upon a bottom wrapper,abutting the arresting plate 26. The engagement of the arresting plate26 by the stack 16 results in severing of the bottom wrapper materialfrom the supply thereof and in actuation of a second ram 28. Actuationof the second ram 28 effects a displacement of the stack 16 onto themain feederconveyor 32 with the stack positioned thereon so that thelong axis of the stack is disposed substantially transversely to thelongitudinal center line of said feeder conveyor 32. As will beexplained in detail later, the discharge of the stack from the stacktransfer and bottom wrapper insertion unit 18 is effected in such amanner as to result in the introduction of the stack on the feederconveyor 32 with a minimum of skewing, it beingkept in mind that thefeeder conveyor is moving in a direction at right angles to thedirection of entry of the stack 16 thereon. It should also be noted thatthe abutting of the stack against the arresting plate 26 and theconsequent right angular displacement thereof by the action of the ram28 effects a further and automatic squaring up of the stack on the twosequentially engaged surfaces thereof, which, together with thepreviously described squaring operation, results in a positive squaringof the stack by engagement of all four of the surfaces thereof. Thefeeder conveyor 32 serves to convey the stacks 16 in a predeterminedpositional relationship to a wire tying unit 34 of conventionalconstruction operating in associatron with a feeder mechanism 36 of thetype described in US. Patent No. 2,630,750. The introduction of thestacks into the wire tying unit 34 results in the automatic tying of thestacks after insertion of a top wrapper thereover. The finished stacksare then displaced along a conveyor 38 and are routed by a suitableconveyor system mto the delivery trucks for distribution to newsdealers.

In certain types of operation it may be desirable to use a smgle wiretying unit 34 to accommodate the output of severalstacker units 12although in most instances a single wire tying unit 34 will operate inconjunction with a single stacker. In any event a possible arrangementis such as shown in Fig. 1 wherein a plurality of stacker units 12 andstack transfer and bottom wrapperinsertion units 18 are arranged to feeda common feeder conveyor 32. In such a multiple unit system it isimperative that the stacks delivered from the various stacker and bottomwrapper insertion units 18 be introduced onto the common feeder conveyor32 in timed relation and with a minimum amount of skewing as the spacethereon is limited in nature. These difiiculties, of course, increasewith the greater the number of units arranged to feed into a commonfeeder conveyor 32.

Turning now to the details of the presently preferred embodiment of thetransfer and bottom wrapper unit as illustrated in the drawings, andreferring first to Fig. 4, the unit may be considered as including astack receivingstation or locality, generally designated as A, a stackdelivery station or locality, generally designated as B, and

, an intermediate bottom wrapper insertion station, generally designatedC. As explained earlier, a stack of papers 16 is adapted to be advancedalong an entry conveyor 14 and is introduced into the stack receivingstation A. A stack 16 so introduced is then transferred across thebottom wrapper insertion station C and introduced into the stackdelivery station B from which it is delivered onto the main feederconveyor 32 leading to the wire tying unit.

For the purpose of convenience the major components of the unit, as setforth above, will be separately described, and will be followed by adetailed description of the electrical control system associatedtherewith.

The stack receiving station Referring to Figs. 2 to 5, the stackreceiving station A is supported by a steel beam framework whichincludes the vertically disposed supporting members 40, 42 and 44.Mounted on the supporting members is a horizontally disposed stacktransfer plate 50, the surface of which err-- tends over the stackreceiving station A and the bottom wrapper insertion station C. Thestack transfer plate 50, within the area thereof included within thestack receiving station A, is provided with a plurality of elongatedrectangular apertures 52 through which protrude a portion of theperipheries of a plurality of spaced rollers 54 disposed at right anglesto the path of travel ofthe incoming stack of papers 16. The rollers 54are positioned so that the exposed peripheral portions thereof arepositioned slightly above the surface of the stack transfer plate 50 sothat rotation of said rollers 54 may be utilized to advance a stack ofpapers disposed therein. The rollers 54 are supported at theirextremities by the horizontally disposed frame members 56 and 58disposed beneath the stack transfer plate 50 and are further provided,at the end thereof remote from the bottom wrapper insertion station C,with individual extending drive sprockets 60. The rollers 54 arepositively driven by means of a drive chain 64 disposed in engagementwith a drive sprocket 66 mounted on the shaft 68 of an electric motor62. The electric motor 62 is mounted beneath the transfer plate 50 on asuitable supporting frame generally designated 78 which preferably ismade adjustable so that the desired degree of tension in the drive chain64 may be maintained. 70 is merely a guiding idler sprocket.

Positioned at the side of the stack receiving station A remote from thepoint of entry of a stack thereto is a vertically disposed stackarresting plate 72 which serves to arrest the forward motion of anincoming stack of papers 16. As shown in the drawings, the stackarresting plate 72 is mounted on a vertically disposed arresting platesupporting shaft 74 rotatably mounted in suitable lugs such as extendingfrom the supporting frame members.

As shown in detail in Fig. 4A, the arresting plate 72 is yieldinglybiased in a clockwise direction by a spring 82. Mounted on the plate 72adjacent the shaft 74 is an extending arm 84 positioned to actuate, upondisplacement thereof, a control rnicroswitch L-l. Receipt of a stack ofpapers in the stack receiving station A and the engagement of saidarresting plate 72 thereby under the action of the rollers 54 results ina slight counterclockwise rotative' displacement" of said arrestingplate 72 about its supporting shaft 74. This counterclockwisedisplacementpalthough very slight, and limited by a stop 76,serv'e's'torotatably displace the arm 84 and to actuatethe controlmicroswitch L-l. As described above, the control microswitch L1 isactuated by the presence'of a stack of papers 16 in the stack receivingstation" The actuation thereof, as will be explainedin' de'tail"ata'later point'in this specification, performs a control func tionrelative tothe transfer of said stack from the 'receiv-' ing station A'to the stack delivery station B. The above described and illustratedmounting of the stack arresting plate 72 permits the same to function toarrest an ad"- vancing stack of papers 16 in the stack receiving station'A-arid to perform an additional control function for the unit asa'whole.

Disposed above the rollers 54 a sufiicient distance to clear the sameand positioned'perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis thereof and insubstantial alignment with the edg'e'82 of the'conveyor 14 is avertically disposed" ram plate 100 adapted to displace stacks of paper16 from the stack receiving stationA to the stack delivery station B; Asthe ram plate 100 must move'in a direction so as'to advance a stack ofpapers disposed in the" stack receiving station A into compressiveengagement with an arresting plate in the stack delivery station B withthe stack riding on the transfer plate 50, it is pro-" vided with a pairof' triangularly shaped side members" 102 and 104 respectively. Thetriangularly shaped side members 102 and l-Mare remotely connected, asat 106" (Fig. 2), to a pair of substantially rectangularly shaped sideplates-108and 110 disposed on the" outer sides'of the frame memberssupporting the transfer plate 50. Each-of the side'plates 108 and 110have mounted there onia pair ofinwardly' disposed support rollers 112.The support rollers 112 are contained within suitable hori zontallydisposed channel members 114 and 116 which form a portion of thesupporting frame, and thereby both guide and support the verticallydisposed ram plate 100 and the above described supporting memberstherefor during its reciprocation.

Mounted on the inner side of the side plate 1 1 (Fig.' isanactuatingtrack 98 suitably positioned to engage" a control'microswitch L-6mounted on the underside of the frame member 96 defining the channel 114when ever the vertical ram plate 100 is disposed beyond the end of' thetransfer plate when advancing a stack of papers into the stack deliverystation E. The microswitch L-6 performs a control function for themecha-' nism utilized to sever the bottom Wrapper material as will beexplained in detail at a later point in this specification.

The reciprocation of the vertically disposedram plate to effectdisplacement of a stack of papers disposed in the stack receivingstation A to the stack delivery station- B iseffected through theactuation of an air cylinder 118 suitably mounted on the support frameand, as illustrated, disposed beneath the drive motor 62 for the rollers54. The piston rod 120 of the air cylin der 118 is pivotally connected,as at 122, to a lever'arm 124. The fixed end of the lever arm 124 ispivotally mounted on the lugs 126 fixedly secured to the base of theunit. The free end 128 of the lever arm 124 is pivotally connected to ahinge pin 130 mounted at one end of a bifurcated link member 132. Theother end of the bifurcated link member 132 is pivotally connected, asat 134 and 136 to the'rear end of the side plates 108 andlll)respectively. p

In operation of the unit, actuation of the air'cylinder 118 results indisplacement of the pistonrod120thereof in aleftward direction asillustrated in Fig. 2. Displacementofthe piston rod120results in apivotal displacement of the lever arm 124 about thelug 126 and'ejventualassumptionthereof, at'the limit of the stroke, of a position in" thevicinity ofthe-dotted lines on Fig. 2; The

1 rod' 120 resultsin a return-of'the ram plate 100 to" its starting orrestposition: In operationof the unit it is desiredtliat thelength ofstroke of the ram plate 100 be such" as to eff ect a compression of thedelivered stack against a suitably positioned arresting plate in thestack delivery station B for positive positioning and alignment ofthe'stack. Consequently, it is'highly" desirable to be able toadjustably determine the limit of the stroke and to provide for positiveretraction of the-ram plate 100 to its rest'position. As best shownihFigs} 2 a nd'S the lever arm'124 is provided with an actuat' ing arrh140 adapted to actuate adjustably positioned con trol'micr'osw'it'ch L-5mounted onthe base of the unit adjacent the lugs 1261 As Will bedescribed in detail later, actuation of the control microswitch L-5serves'to limit the length of stroke of the ram plate 100 and toinitiate the retraction of the same from its advanced position. v I

Thestack delivery station Referririg initially to Figs. 2 to 4, thestack delivery station B'includes' a horizontally disposed plate member'positioned in the same plane as the transfer plate Stl'and supported bya plurality of verticallydisposed supportingmembers', such as forexample, the member's 152; 154,156,158; and 162.

Pivotally mounted'as at 142 (Fig. 2A) on the rrame members'152 and154'isa vertically disposed arre'sting' plate l44'positioned so a'stoarrest the'movement of a stack of papers 16 being introduced into thedelivery station B by the ram plate 100. Asshowm-the arresting" plate144is pivotally'mounted adjacent its upper extremity and its lowerendi's yieldingly biased out o'fen'gag'e'n'te'rit with the frame members152 and 154 by a biasing spring 146. Mounted on the frame member 154 andpositioned to be actuated'by the displacement of the arresting plate 144resulting from contact with a stack of papers 16 introduced into thestack delivery station B by theram plate 100, are three controlmicroswitches L-2,-L-7 and L-9,.respectively. The control microswitchesL-2, L -7 arid L-9 are thus all-responsive to the presence ofal stack ofpapers 16 in the stack delivery station'B and the controlfunction's'perf ormed thereby will be described in detail at a laterpoint in this specification.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3, 13 and 14, disposed above the plate member150 defining the stack delivery station B and mounted upon thevertically disposed support members'152; 158,160 and 162 is ahorizontally dis" posed supporting plate 164. Perpendicularly mounted onthe supporting plate 164 are a pair of vertically disposed supportingplates 166 and 168' on top of which is mounted'an air cylinder 170. Thepiston rod 172 of the air cylinder'170 is connected to a rack 174disposed between the vertically disposed and spaced apart supportingplates166' and' 1 63. The rack 174 is disposed in operative engagementwith a pinion 176 mounted on a shaft 178'that'is rotatably supported bysaid vertically disposed supporting plates 166 and 168 The shaft 178extends outwardly beyond the supporting plates l66 and- 168 and securedto each of said extending portions is oneend of a rocker arm 180. Theother ends of the rocker arms 180 are secured to link'members 182 whichin turn are connectedtothe horizontally disposed support members'184a'n'd"186 forthev'ertically disposeddelivery ramplate 188suspende'd'ther'efrom. The support members" areprov'ided with rollers190 which "are contained within theextendin'g channel'me'nibers" 192 and194 and serve 7 to guide, support and position the suspended deliveryram plate 188 during the reciprocation thereof.

The reciprocation of the suspended delivery ram plate 188 to effect adisplacement of a stack of papers disposed in the stack delivery stationB is effected through actuation of the air cylinder 170. With the partspositioned as illustrated in Fig. 13, actuation of the air cylinder 170results in a displacement of the piston rod 172 thereof to the right.The displacement of the piston rod 172 results in a similar displacementof the rack 174 secured thereto, and in a clockwise rotation of thepinion 176 in engagement therewith. Rotation of the pinion 176 resultsin a rotative displacement of the rocker arms 180 which, through thelinks 182, is translated into horizontal displacement of the supportmembers 184 and 186 and the delivery ram plate 188 suspended therefrom.Retraction of the piston rod 172, in a similar manner, results inretraction of the delivery ram plate 188. It should be noted that theabove arrangement provides a form of harmonic motion wherein a constantspeed of rotation of the rocker arms 180 through a 180 degreedisplacement thereof effects a varying speed of displacement, in thenature of a sine function, for the linear speed of the delivery ramplate 188 with the maximum speed thereof being effected when the rockerarms 180 have been displaced 90 degrees from their rest position. Thisvariation in speed of the delivery ram plate 188 is of decided utilityas will be explained later in this specification.

The horizontal displacement of the support member 186 is also utilizedto perform a control function in the operation of the machine. As shownin Fig. 13a pair of control microswitches L-3 and L-11 are mounted inthe track formed by the channel members 194 and are positioned at theend thereof so as to be actuated when the support member 186 reaches thelimit of its stroke. In a similar manner a control microswitch L-S ismounted on the horizontal support member 164 so as to be ac tuated bythe rocker arm 180 when the same is positioned as illustrated in Fig. 13with the delivery ram 188 in retracted position. The control functionsof these control microswitches will be described in detail at a laterpoint in this specification.

The bottom wrapper insertion station Referring now to Figs. 2 and 4through 7, the stack transfer plate 50 is provided with a substantiallyrectangular aperture 200 having its long dimension disposedperpendicularly to the path of travel of a stack 16 in transit from thestack receiving station A to the stack delivery station B. Disposedbeneath the aperture 200 is a freely rotatable bottom wrapper feedroller 202. The feed roller 202 is positioned so that a portion of theperiphery thereof extends through said aperture 200 and is locatedslightly above the surface of the transfer plate 50. Disposed around theroller 202 and with the free end thereof disposed on the top of thetransfer plate 50 as at 204 is a web or strip of suitable bottom wrappermaterial 206 such as brown paper. The web of bottom wrapper material 206is obtained from a supply roll 208. The supply roll 208 is rotatablymounted at one end of a pair of support arms 210 which are positioned attheir midlength by the standards 212 mounted on the vertically disposedframe members 154 and 156, respectively. As illustrated, the arms 210support a supply roll 208 at each end thereof so that when one of thesupply rolls 208 is exhausted, a fresh supply may be convenientlydisplaced into the feed position. Suitable locking means such as the pin209 (Fig. 2) are provided to position the support arms relative to thestandards 212.

The web of bottom wrapper material 206 is led from the upper supply roll208 through a pair of snubber bars 214 mounted intermediate the framemembers 154 and 156, over a web guide 216 disposed beneath the plate 150and thence around the feed roll 202 and through the aperture 200 ontothe upper surface of the transfer.

plate 50. Means, such as a tension plate 218 pivotally mounted on theframe members 154 and 156 as at 220 are provided to prevent overrunningof the supply roll 208 and to thereby maintain a small amount of backtension in the bottom wrapper material 206 to assure uniform feed andguiding thereof. Similarly, the feed roll 202 is provided with anintegral ratchet 220 (Figs. 6 and 7) which is engaged by a pawl 224 soas to permit rotation of the feed roll 202 only in one direction.Associated with the feed roll 202 is an auxiliary pressure roller 226which maintains the bottom wrapper material 206 in close engagement withthe periphery of the roller 202 at all times.

In operation of the unit the displacement of a stack of papers 16 fromthe stack receiving station A by the ram plate results in said stackbeing moved over the protruding surface of the feed roll 202. The weightof the stack undergoing displacement and the frictional engagement ofthe bottom of said stack with the bottom wrapper material 206 disposedon the upper surface of the feed roll 202 will usually be sufficient tocause said strip material to be advanced in conjunction with saidadvancing stack and to thereby result in an automatic pick up of alength of protective bottom wrapper material 206 as the stack istransferred from the stack receiving station A to the stack deliverystation B. If desired, however, the roll 202 may be positively driven asby a suitable rack associated with the advancing ram plate 100 engaginga pinion mounted on the roll 202 in association with a unidirectionalclutch mechanism therefor.

After the stack 16 has reached the stack delivery station B and ispositioned therein against the arresting plate 144, the advanced lengthof the bottom wrapper material 206 now disposed beneath the stack mustbe severed from the remainder of the web. Referring to Figs. 3 and 8 to12, there is provided a web cutting assembly generally designated 250which includes a horizontally displaceable mounting member 254 having acircular cutting blade 252 rotatably mounted therein. The cutting blade252 is positioned so as to be disposed in a track 256 defined by thespace intermediate the edge of the stack transfer plate 50 and the plate150, and it.

is maintained in cutting position within said track by a biasing spring258 mounted in the arcuate support memher 260. The mounting member 254is provided with an integral carriage 262 disposed beneath the surfaceof the stack transfer plate 50 on which are mounted a plurality ofrollers 264 adapted to be positioned within a channel 266 defined by thetransfer plate 50 and the channel member 265.

The necessary reciprocation of the cutting assembly 250 to sever theadvanced portion of the web 206 is effected by an air cylinder 270mounted on an extending horizontally disposed frame member 272. Thepiston rod 274 of the air cylinder 270 is connected by chains or cables276 and 278 running over suitable guide sprockets 280a through 280d toeither end of the carriage 262. Actuation of the air cylinder 270 (Fig.9) results in a displacement of the piston rod 274 to the left. Aleftward displacement of the piston rod 274 results in the carriage 262being displaced to the right intermediate the frame members 162 and 160due to the action of the chain 278 and the guide sprockets 28012 and28011. In a similar manner retraction of the piston rod 274 from itsextended position results in a return of the cutting blade assembly 250to its rest position by action of the chain 276 and guide sprockets 280aand 2800. Through the above described structure, reciprocation of thecutting assembly 250 elfectively severs the advanced portion of thebottom wrapper material disposed beneath a stack of newspapers locatedin the stack delivery station B from the remainder of the web ofmaterial 206.

The displacement of the piston rod 274 is also utilized 2 to perform acontrol function for the machine. .The coni ats's'mooev Control systemIn the preceding portions of this specification the physical location ofthe control microswitches L-l through- L11' have been described indetail. Included in the generalcontrol system and in associationtherewith is an ad ditional control unit in the form of a photoelectriccell control to control the delivery of stacks from the stack deliverystation E onto a commonfeeder conveyor 32 when a plurality of stacktransfer and bottom wrapper insertion unitsare arranged to feed acommonfeeder conveyor.

Asshownin Fig. 1 there is provided a photocell 300 and a light source302 therefor arranged so that the beam of light 304 emanating from thelight source traverses the portion of the feeder conveyor 32 requiredfor insertion of a stack thereinto. the beam 304 contains any portion ofa stack 16, the

beam will, of course, be interrupted and, as explained later, theinterruption of the beam is utilized to open a relay to preventactuation of the delivery ram 188. In addition to performing the abovecontrol function, thephotocell 300 also serves as a safety device in'preventing delivery ofa stack if there is any obstructionin its path oftravel.

The circuit diagram for the control system associated withthe stacktransfer and-bottom wrapper insertionunit forming. the subject matter ofthis invention is sche-' matically set forth in'Fig. 14. As thereillustrated, there is provided a suitable A.C. source 310 connectable tothe line 312 through closure of a main switch 314'. A

separate control circuit is provided for each of the air cylindersdescribed above, i.e., the air cylinder 118 for the ramplate lltltl; theair cylinder 170 for the delivery ram plate 188; and the air cylinder27%) for the cutting assembly 250; Each of the air cylinders is providedwith' solenoid actuated valves with-- the actuating: coils forthesolenoid valves being includeddn the illustrated control system.

The control circuit for the air cylinder 118 includes a step-downtransformer 316, the secondary of whichin' clude the advance valvesolenoid coil 318 connected in' series with the normally open-contactsof control microswitches 'L-El, L-S and L- -l and the normally closedcon tacts of control microswitch L-2. As discussed'earlier; the controlmicroswitch Lll is positioned behind the ar resting plate 72 in thestack receiving station A and the contacts thereof will be closed'inresponse to the displacement of the arresting plate 72 resultingfromengagement therewith by a stack under the influence of the drivenrollers 54; The control microswitch L-2 is disposedb'ehind'thea-rresting plate 144 in the stack delivery station E and isarrangedto be opened by the compressive en-' gagement of a stack withsaid arresting plate 1441 As such the presence of a stack of papers inthe stack delivery station Blwill open the control microswitch L2 andwill prevent actuation of the advance valve solenoid coil 318. Thecontrol microswitch L-3 is mountedon the supporting plate 164 and ispositioned to beclosed by the rocker arm 130 when the delivery ram plate183' isin itsretra cted position; The normally opencontrol microswitchL-l, as discussed earlier,ispositionedon the supportmember 272 fortheaircylinder 270 and is adapted to be-closed only when the piston rod 274of said air cylinder is in its retracted position. Through the abovedescribed. control circuit itwill be seen that advance valve solenoid.318- for the air cylinder 118" will be actuated to effect an advance oftheram plate 100' If the area traversed by' only when the contacts" ofcontrol microswitch L 1: are closed due to the presence ofa stack-in thestack" re ceivin'g station A; t the contacts of" the control microswitchL-2 are in' their normally closed position indicative of the absence ofa stack in'the stacl delivery station B; the contacts ofcontrol'rriicroswitch L-Sare' closedin' dicativeof the fact that thedelivery ram plate'1'88' is in its'retracted' position; and the contactsof'the' control microswitch L+4 are closed indicative of the-fact'thatthecutting assembly 250' is in its'rest or retractedposition." Thus onlyWhen these operating conditions are satisfied" will the ram plate beactuated to advance a stackfrom the stack receiving-'stationA-to'thestack delivery station B; I

The return valve'solenoid 320 for the air cyli'nder' 118 isconnected'iri series withthe normally open con tac'ts'of the controlmicrosWitbhL-S. As discussedean lier, the contacts of the controlmicroswitch L-5- are adapted to be closedonly when'the'lever' arm 124reaches its limiting position determinative of the length of strokeofthe vertical ram plate 100. Through the'abov'e cir cuit, the piston' rod129 will thus be positively retracted due to energization of thesolenoid 320 as soon as the lever arm 124'reaches its limiting positionwhich, as

mentionedabove, isadjustable so as'to effect a desired amount ofcom'pressi'onof the stack of papers delivered tothe stack delivery.station E against the arresting plate 144 therein.

The control system for the air cylinder includes" a step-downtransformer 322, the secondary of which includes the advance solenoidcoil 324 connected-in series with the normally open contacts of controlmicro-switches L-9 and L-10 and the normally closed contacts of a switchmember 326- which is responsive to the photoelectric cell 300 disposedadjacent thefeed conveyor 32* and" is arranged to be opened when thepresence of a stack of papers in-the area 306 is sensed. As discusseding plate 144 for the stack delivery station B and the" contacts thereofare adapted to be closed only when astack of papers is disposed againstsaid plate. As such, closure of the contacts of the control microswitchL9' is indicative of the fact that a stack of papers is disposed withinthe stack delivery station B. Through the above des'crib'edcont'rolcircuit it will be seen that the advance valv'e' solenoid 324f0r the aircylinder 170 will beactu'a'ted to effect an advance ofthe delivery ramplate 188 only when a stack is'p'resent in the stack delivery stationvB, the w'eb'of bottom wrapper material has been severed, and the cuttingassembly 250 is, in its advanced position, and when there is a spaceavailable on the feeder conveyorfor the stack to be delivered from thestack delivery station B. p k

The' return valve solenoid'328 for the air cylinder 170- is" connectedin series with the normally open contacts of the control microswitch L-ll. As discussed earlier, the control microswitch L11 is disposed at theend of" the channel members 194 and is'adapted to be closed by thesupp'ortmember 186 when the delivery'ra'm 188" isin'its" advancedposition. Thus the advance of the delivery ram 188 to'its advancedposition results'in closure ofthecontacts ofthe control microswitchL-ll, actuation' of the return' solenoid 328 and a positive returnofthepistont172fof'the air'cylinder'170 to effe-ct a return of thedelivery; ram plate 188 toits retracted position.

'I hecontrol'system for the air. cylinder 270 includes assaese astep-down transformer 330, the secondary circuit of which includes theadvance valve solenoid 332 connected in series with the normally opencontacts of control microswitches L-6 and L-7. As discussed earlier, thecontrol microswitch L-6 is actuated by the timing track 98 disposed onthe side member 110 of the ram plate 100. The contacts of the controlmicroswitch L-6 are arranged to be closed only when the ram plate 100 ispositioned out of the stack delivery station B which is indicative ofthe fact that the cutting assembly 250 has an unobstructed path oftravel. The control microswitch L-7 is disposed behind the arrestingplate 144 associated with the stack delivery station E and is arrangedso that the presence of a stack in the stack delivery station B willeffect a closure of the contacts thereof. Through the above describedcontrol circuit it will be seen that the advance valve solenoid 332 forair cylinder 270 will be actuated to effect an advance of the cutterassembly 250 only when a stack is present in the stack delivery stationB and the vertical ram plate 100 is located so as to permit unobstructedtravel of the cutter assembly.

The return valve solenoid 334 for the air cylinder 270 is connected inseries with the normally open contacts of control microswitch L-8. Asdiscussed earlier, the control microswitch L-8 is physically locatedintermediate the channel members 194 and is positioned so as to beclosed by the support member 186 when the delivery ram 188 reaches itsmost advanced position. Thus it will be seen that the cutter assembly250 and the delivery ram 188 will be returned to their rest positionssimultaneously.

Operation of the unit In operation of the unit disclosed herein, a stackof papers 16 exiting from a stacker unit 12 on the conveyor 14 isintroduced into the stack receiving station A. The engagement of thebottom of the stack 16 with the driven rollers 54 disposed within thestack receiving station A efiects a positive advance of the stack intocompressive engagement with the vertically disposed arresting plate 72.The frictional engagement between the driven rollers 54 and the bottomof the stack insures that the stack is compressively urged against thearresting plate 72 in an amount sufficient to actuate the controlmicroswitch L-l as well as to aid in squaring the stack. If it beassumed that the stack delivery station B is empty and that the deliveryram plate 188 associated therewith and the cutting assembly 250 are intheir retracted positions, closure of the contacts of the controlmicroswitch L-l will result in energization of the advance valvesolenoid 318 for the air cylinder 118.

The actuation of the advance valve for the air cylinder 118 resultingtherefrom will effect an advance of the piston rod 120 contained in saidcylinder and an advance of the vertically disposed ram plate 100displacing the stack of papers 16 across the bottom wrapper feed roll202 and into the stack delivery station B. The engagement of the stackby the vertical ram plate 100 and the initial displacement thereof bysaid plate past the arresting plate 70 results in a further positivesquaring of the stack. a

As the stack 16 being displaced from the receiving station A to thedelivery station B passes over the bottom wrapper feed roll 202, thefrictional engagement of the bottom of the stack 16 with the web ofbottom wrapper material 206 disposed on the upper surface of said feedroll 202 results in a pick up of said web and an advance of the sametogether with the moving stack 16. As mentioned above, the length ofstroke of the vertical ram plate 100 is preferably adjusted so that thestack 16, when disposed in the stack delivery station B with the bottomwrapper material disposed therebeneath is compressively urged againstthe vertically disposed arresting plate 144. The compressive engagementof the stack intermediate the arresting plate 144 and the ram plateresults in a further positive squaring of the stack.

When the ram plate 100 reaches its limiting position, closure of thecontacts of the control microswitch L-S results in actuation of thereturn valve solenoid 320 and a positive retraction of the ram plate 100to its rest position, thus rendering the stack receiving station A readyto receive a subsequent stack of papers 16 delivered along the conveyor14.

The return of the vertical ram plate 100 and the presence of a stack 16disposed against the arresting plate 144 in the stack delivery station Bresults in closure of the contacts of the control microswitches L-6 andL-7 and in actuation of the advance valve solenoid 332 for the aircylinder 270 associated with the cutting assembly 250. Actuation of theadvance valve solenoid 332 results in a displacement of the piston rod274 for the air cylinder 270 and an advance of the cutting assembly 250across the Web of bottom wrapper material 206. The advance of thecutting assembly 250 effectively severe the advanced portion of said webmaterial 206 disposed beneath the stack 16 now positioned in the stackdelivery station B from the remainder of said bottom wrapper material.

If it be assumed that a space is available on the feeder conveyor 32 fordelivery of the stack 16 disposed in the stack delivery station B, thedisplacement of the cutting assembly 250 to its most advanced positionresults in closure of the contacts of the control microswitch L-IO.Closure of the contacts of the control microswitch L-10, together withthe previous closure of the contacts of the control microswitch L-9 dueto the presence of a stack 16 against the arresting plate 144 in thestack delivery station B, results in the energization of the advancevalve solenoid 324 for the air cylinder 170. Actuation of the aircylinder results in displacement of the piston 172 therein and inrotative displacement of the rocker arms which effects a horizontaladvance of the delivery ram 188 which delivers the stack of papersdisposed in the stack delivery station B onto the feed conveyor 32.

It should be noted that the rotative displacement of the rocker arms 180results in a speed variation in the linear advance of the delivery ramplate 188 with the maximum speed thereof being effected when the rockerarm 180 is displaced 90 degrees from its rest position. Thisdisplacement of the delivery ram plate 188 which is in the nature of asine function, provides a fast rate of delivery for the stack being soexpelled from the stack delivery station B. This results in a minimumamount of skewing of the stack delivered onto the feeder conveyor 32 andthereby provides for minimum space wastage on said feeder conveyor. Itshould also be noted that the delivery of the stack by the ram plate 188results in a further squaring of the stack on the only side thereof thathas not been engaged by a component of the stack transfer and bottomwrapper unit.

The advance of the delivery ram 188 to its most advanced posiion resultsin closure of the contacts of the control microswitches L-11 and L-8 andin actuation of the return valve solenoids 328 and 334 of the aircylinders 170 and 270 respectively. Actuation of the return valvesolenoid 328 results in a positive retraction of the piston 172 and apositive return of the delivery ram 188, thus rendering the stackdelivery station B available for receipt of a new stack from the stackreceiving station A. Actuation of the return valve solenoid 334 resultsin positive retraction of the piston 274 and accompanying retraction ofthe cutting assembly 250 to its rest position which thus permitsdelivery of a second stack of papers now disposed in the stack receivingstation A to the stack delivery station B and another cycle ofoperation.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have hereindescribed the principle of operation of this invention, together withthe elements which [now consider to constitute a workable embodimentthereof, but

tassaeae relations described, some of these may be altered and modifiedwithout interfering with the more general results outlined.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A newspaper stack transfer and bottom wrapper unit comprising meanspositioned to receive a stack of papers moving in a predetermineddirection, stackdelivery means positioned to receive a stack of papersexpelled, from said stack receiving means in a direction substantial-1yatright angles to its original direction of movement, bottom wrapperpositioning means disposed intermediate said stack receiving means andsaidstack delivery means and arranged to place a length of bottomwrapper material in engagement with the underside of a stack of papersbeing displaced therepast, means associated with said stack receivingmeans for arresting the movement of a stack of papers introducedtherein, means responsive-to said ,arresting means for displacing saidstack of papers from said stack receiving means to said stack deliverymeans across said bottom wrapper positioning means, means associatedwith said stack delivery means for arresting said stack of paperstherein, and means responsive to said last mentioned arresting means forexpelling said stack from said stack delivery means.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means responsive tothe receipt of said stack in saidstack delivery means for cutting thetrailing edge of said bottom wrapper material disposed beneath saidstack.

3. A newspaper stack transfer and bottom wrapper unit comprising meanspositioned to receive a stack of papers moving in a predetermineddirection, means associated with said stack receiving means forarresting the movement of a stack introduced therein, means responsiveto said arresting means for displacing said arrested stack of papersfrom said stack receiving means in a direction substantially transverseto that of its initial direction of motion, stack delivery meanspositioned to receive said stack of papers displaced from said stackreceiving means, bottom wrapper insertion means disposed intermediatesaid stack receiving means and said stack delivery means for placing alength of bottom wrapper material in engagement with the underside ofthe stack of papers being displaced therepast, means associated withsaid stack delivery means for arresting the forward movement of a stackof papers introduced therein, and means responsive to said lastmentioned arresting means for displacing said arrested stack therefrom.

4. The unit as set forth in claim 3 wherein the means for displacing thestack from said stack delivery means is provided with a drivingmechanism arranged to displace said stack displacing means with asubstantially harmonic type of motion.

5. A newspaper stack transfer and bottom wrapper unit comprising meanspositioned to receive a stack of papers moving in a predetermineddirection, means associated with said stack receiving means forarresting the movement of a stack introduced therein, means responsiveto said arresting means for displacing an arrested stack of papers fromsaid stack receiving means in a direction substantially transverse tothat of its initial direction of motion, stack delivery means positionedto receive said stack of papers displaced from said stack receivingmeans, bottom wrapper insertion means disposed intermediate said stackreceiving means and said stack delivery means arranged to position theleading edge of a strip of bottom wrapper material in frictionalengagement with the underside of said stack of papers being advancedtherepast, means associated with said stack delivery means for arrestingthe movement of a stack of papers introduced therein, and meansresponsive 1to.said last -mentioned arresting means for displacing saidstackfrom said stack delive yrneans.

6. The unit as settforth in claim 5 including means responsive to the,receipt .of said stack in said stack delivery means for,,.severing theportion of said strip of bottom wrapper material disposed beneath saidstack .fromtheremainder of said strip.

7. A newspaper stack transfer and bottom wrapper .unitcomprisingmeanspositioned to receive a stackof papers moving in ,a predetermineddirection, a stack delivery means .positioned to receive a stack ofpapers fromsaid stack receiving means, bottom wrapper positioning meansdisposed intermediate said stack receiving meansandsaidstackvdeliverymeans and arrangedto place a length. ofbottorn wrapper material inengagement with the undersideof a stack of papers being displacedtherepast, means associated with said stack receiving means fordisplacing a stack of papers therefrom in a directionsubstantiallytransverse to that of its original direction of movement to saidstackdelivery means across said bottom wrapper positioning means, and meansresponsive tothe receipt of saidstack in said stack delivery .means fordisplacingsaid stackfrom said :stack delivery means in a direction.substantially parallel to thatof its orginal direction of motion.

8. The unit as set forth in claim 7 whereinsaid means for displacingsaid stack from said stackdelivery means isprovided with a drivingmechanism arranged to displace said stack displacing means with asubstantially harmonic .type' motion.

9. A newspaper stack transfer and bottom wrapper unit comprising meanspositioned to receive a stack of papers moving in a predetermineddirection, means associated with said stack receiving means forarresting the movement of the stack introduced therein, a horizontallydisplaceable ram responsive to said arresting means for displacing astack from said stack receiving means in a direction substantiallytransverse to that of its initial direction of motion, stack deliverymeans positioned to receive said stack of papers displaced from saidstack receiving means, bottom wrapper insertion means disposedintermediate said stack receiving means and said stack delivery meansarranged to position the leading edge of a strip of bottom wrappermaterial in frictional engagement with the underside of the stack ofpapers being advanced therepast and to be advanced thereby, meansassociated with said stack delivery means for arresting the movement ofa stack of papers introduced therein, cutting means associated with saidstack delivery means and responsive to the engagement of said lastmentioned arresting means by said stack for severing the advancedportion of said strip of bottom Wrapper material from the remainderthereof, and a second horizontally displaceable ram responsive to thearresting of said stack in said stack delivery means for displacing saidstack from said stack delivery means in a direction substantiallyparallel to that of its original direction of motion.

10. The unit as set forth in claim 9 wherein the second ram is providedwith a driving mechanism arranged to displace said ram with asubstantially harmonic type motion.

11. The unit as set forth in claim 9 including control means responsiveto the presence of a stack in the stack delivery means for preventingactuation of said first mentioned ram.

12. The unit as set forth in claim 9 including means responsive to theretraction of said first mentioned ram for preventing actuation of saidcutting means.

13. The unit as set forth in claim 9 wherein said cutting means isreciprocable transversely of said strip of bottom wrapper material.

14. The unit as set forth in claim 9 including control means responsiveto the location of said second ram for controlling actuation of saidfirst ram.

15. The unit as set forth in claim 9 including control means responsiveto the location of said cutting means for controlling actuation of saidfirst ram.

16. A newspaper stack transfer and bottom wrapper unit comprising meansto halt the movement of a stack in a predetermined direction, means :fordisplacing a halted stack in a direction substantially transverse tothat of its initial direction and in substantially the same planetherewith, means for positioning a length of bottom wrapper material inthe transverse path of travel of said stack in such manner as to beengaged by the under surface of said moving stack and to be advanced inconjunction therewith, means for arresting the transverse movement ofsaid stack subsequent to its passage over the bottom wrapper positioningmeans, and means for displacing said arrested stack in a directionsubstantially parallel to and in substantially the same plane as that ofits original direction of motion.

17. A newspaper stack transfer and bottom wrapper unit comprising meansto halt the movement of a stack in a predetermined direction, means fordisplacing a halted stack in a direction substantially transverse tothat of its initial direction and in substantially the same planetherewith, means for inserting the leading edge of a length of bottomwrapper material in the transverse path of travel of said stack in suchmanner as to be engaged by the under surface of said moving stack and tobe advanced in conjunction therewith, means for arresting the transversemovement of said stack subsequent to its passage over the bottom wrapperinsertion means, and

. 16 5 means for displacing said arrested stack in a directionsubstantially parallel to and in substantially the same plane as that ofits original direction of motion.

18. A newspaper stack transfer and bottom wrapper unit comprising meansto halt the movement of a stack in a predetermined direction, means fordisplacing a halted stack in a direction substantially transverse tothat of its initial direction, means for inserting the leading edge of aweb of bottom wrapper material in the transverse path of travel of saidstack in such manner as to be engaged by the under surface of said stackand to be advanced in conjunction therewith, means for arrest ing thetransverse movement of said stack, means responsive to said lastmentioned means for severing the advanced portion of said web of bottomwrapper material from the remainder thereof, and means for displacingsaid arrested stack in a direction substantially parallel to that of itsoriginal direction of motion.

19. The unit as set forth in claim 18 wherein said bottom wrapperinsertion means includes a roller over which said material is disposedto be frictionally engaged by the stack as said stack advancestherepast.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,601,784 Wanders Oct. 5, 1926 2,442,250 Spain May 25, 1948 2,636,654Sykes Apr. 28, 1953 2,681,171 Brown et al. June 15, 1954

